Uruzgan governor wants projects in areas under Taliban

TIRINKOT (Pajhwok): The governor of central Uruzgan province says he wants to carry out reconstruction projects in Taliban-controlled areas after he has discussed the topic with area people.

Governor Mohammad Nazir Kharotai, who presided over an administrative meeting here on Monday, said projects could not be implemented in areas under Taliban due to insecurity.

He said if Taliban allowed projects’ implementation, a procedure would be made and signed with the rebels. Kharotai said under the procedure plan, the Taliban were required to let projects’ monitoring team work in areas under their control.

According to him, a number of local Taliban leaders have showed consent to their decision and the provincial administration would sign the agreement with area residents and tribal elders.

However, some provincial governance officials supported the decision but others opposed it.

Rural rehabilitation and development director Eng. Shams Rahman, told Pajhwok Afghan News he welcomed the decision and demanded its early accomplishment.

According to him, security problems have blocked their activities and they couldn’t carry out projects in areas under Taliban.

He said currently work on 13 projects of his department worth 182 million afghanis had been stopped due to insecurity.

Rahman said if the mentioned projects weren’t implemented, the ministry concerned would cancel them.

Agriculture, irrigation and livestock department head, Zalmai Alko, also said if an agreement aimed at allowing projects was signed with tribal elders, influential figures and insurgents, it would help complete half-done projects.

However, refugee and rehabilitation director, Abdul Qahar Dost and finance and administrative in-charge at the governor’s house, Abdul Jaleel Achakzai, expressed fear about the agreement.

They believed the Taliban would take all facilities and equipment of projects and would use them for strengthening their ranks.

Achakzai said Taliban in areas under their control extorted money from vaccinators processes, telecom networks and even education offices.

Residents of the province expressed happiness over the provincial government’s decision to implement reconstruction projects in insecure areas through spending aid money.

A resident of Tirinkot city, the provincial capital, Abdul Qadeer, said insecurity had brought most of the projects to a halt, with ordinary people bearing the brunt of the situation.